Smoke producer



May 14,. 19 29. A'. R. SMITH SMOKE PRODUCER Filed March 11. 1924 4 sneetsl-sneet 1 ATTORNEY.

May 14, 1929. A. R. SMITH 1,713,056

' SMOKE PRODUCER Filed March 11, 1924 4 sheets sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

Aff THUR 5. 5mm BY 74.

I ATTORNEY.

A. R. SMITH 1,713,056

. SMOKE PR'obucEfi Filed March 11, 1924 4"SheetsSheet 3 INVEN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

A. R. SMITH SMOKE PRODUCER May 14, 1929.

Filed March ll, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet; 4

IN VEN TOR.

M. 5 m RM WW Patented May 14, 1929.

[ UNITED STATES OFFICE.

ARTHUR R. SMITH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO; IDA SMITH, ADMINISTRATRIX OF SAID' ARTHUR B. SMITH, DECEASED, ASSIGNO R 01E ONE-HALF T0 JAMES S. SMITH AND ONE-HALF TO IDA SMITH.

I SMOKE PRODUCER.

Application filed March 11, 1924. Serial 110,698,469.

The invention relates to apparatus for, and

process of, treating smoke-producing ma-' for other purposes.

It is an object of the invention to provide eificient means easily controlled by the OP? erator, and methods easily and efliciently carried out for treatment of smoke material and its discharge into the atmosphere either as smoke or as a substance or mixture of substances that will produce smoke on contact with the atmosphere.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby heat derived from an engine, such an internal-combustion propelling-engine of an aircraft, is employed to bring smoke-producing material to such temperature as will convert it into, smoke either in the apparatus or on discharge into the atmosphere.

Further, the invention provides other means for igniting smoke material or causing its ignition.

When considered in connection with the description herein, the characteristics of the invention are apparent from the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, wherein adaptations of the invention are disclosed, for purposes of illustration.

Although the disclosures herein exemplify what now are considered to be preferable embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that it is not theintention to be limited necessarily thereto in interpretation of the claims, as modifications and adaptations within the limits ofthe claims can be made without departing from the nature of the invention.

Like reference-characters refer to corresponding partsin the views of the drawings, of which Fig. 1 is a view of an apparatus for discharge of smoke material in powdered or similar form;

' Fig. 2 is a view of another form of apparatus for that purpose;

' Fig. 3 is a view of an apparatus whereinair is heated for application to smoke material;

Fig. 4 is a detail View thereof;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of'another apparatus wherein heated air is employed;

Fig. 5 is a plan View thereof;

Fig. 6 is a View of an apparatus that involves electrical ignition of smoke material;

Fig. 7 is a View of an arrangement for igmtion of smoke material by burners;

Fig. 8 is a. View of an apparatus in which discharge of smoke material is eflected by fluid under controlled pressure; and

Fig. 9 is a view of anapparatus that in-' cludes means for controlling the temperature of smoke material by a temperature-controlled circulating fluid.-

In the views of the drawings in which those parts appear, D designates an internalcombustion engine, such as, for example, the

propelling-engine of an aircraft, E an exhaust-conduit of the engine, and SM'a tank, casmg, or other container of smoke material. Re erring to Figs. 1 and 2, the container 1 SM has a hopper bottom 11, from which leads a discharge-port 12 fitted'with a semi-spherical screen 13 arranged for passage therethrough of smoke material in comminuted, granular, or similar form. Stirrer or agitator members 14 are arranged to cooperate with the screen to cause passage of the material therethrough. These members are mounted on a shaft15, which is rotated by an enginedriven shaft 16 through the instrumentality of a clutch or other power-transmission device 17. The device 17 is controlled by a swingably-mounted arm 18, which may be swung by a member 19 extending to a place within reach of the operator.

In the form of apparatus exemplified by Fig. 1, the port 12 communicates with a discharge-conduit- 20, through which a. current of aseous fluid is caused to flow, and the con- (111i has a discharge end 21 turned to direct upper portion of the-smoke-material container, as shown in Fig. 1, in order to equalize pressure in the container.

When the stirrer members 14 are inactive, no appreciable amount of smoke material is dischaged through the screen 13 into the conduit 20. When the operator wishes to effect such discharge, the parts of the clutch 17 are fluid current therein and discharged into the stream of hot fluid emitted from the exhaust conduit. On contact with the hot exhaust fluid, the smoke material ignites and evolves or produces smoke. The discharge of smoke material is under control of the operator at all times by means of the clutch, the fluid current in the conduit 20 is sufficiently rapid to insure almost instant delivery of smoke material to and its ignition by the hot exhaust current after the material is discharged from the conduit, and production of smoke is as instantly discontinued on cessation of operation of the stirrer members.

Among the materials that can be used satisfactorily in an apparatus of this sort is red phosphorus in powdered or similar form. It ignites in the air when heated to 500 degrees F. or thereabout, and suflficient heat for that purpose is afforded by the exhaust of an internal-combustion engine when the material is brought into contact with the exhaust current at or near its place of discharge into the atmosphere.

The apparatus is capable of operating not I when the stirrer members are inactive.

In some circumstances, red phosphorus and other smoke material suitable for use in the apparatus may be liable to preignite when brought into the presence ofair in the discharge-conduit. In order to avoid such preignition, and also to produce i 'nition at the desired place, apparatus of the Enm disclosed by Fig. 2 is provided. Therein the dischargeconduit 20, instead of being arranged to have an air current maintained therein, has non-inflammable fluid, such as carbon-dioxide gas, for example, delivered thereto from a tank 24 by a pipe 25. I

I The fluid passing from the tank may be heated in any suitable manner. A convenient and efiective means of heating is by disposing aportion of the pipe 25 as a heater in proximity to the exhaust-conduit, as by passing it therearound as a coil 26.

When heated inert or non-inflammable fluid is applied to smoke material in the course of its passage toward discharge, the temperature of the mixture may be such as of itself to cause ignition of smoke material of some characteristics upon its release into the atmosphere. In such case, it is not necessary to bring the discharged stream containing smoke material into the presence of the exhaust or other ignition instrum'entality.

However, when the smoke material is of such character as to require it to be brought, for ignition, into the presence of heat on discharge,-wl1ethe1'- it is in a current of air as in the case of an apparatus such as exemplified by Fig. -1 or in a heated or unheated noninflammable current as with an apparatus of a type exemplified by Fig. 2, instead of being discharged into the exhaust stream in'a manner such as disclosed byFig. 1, ignition may be eli'ected as disclosed by Fig. 2. In that arrangement, the conduit 20 and the exhaustconduit discharge into an open ended casing 27 comprehending an ignition-chamber and having an air-scoop 28 at its front end, the conduit 20 delivering to the chamber in advance of the exhaust-conduit.

When the rearward-ly-flowing smoke material delivered to the chamber contacts with the hot exhaust delivered thereto, ignition and smoke production occur, and a trail of smoke subsists to the rear of the ignitionehamber. Delivery of smoke material to the conduit 20 and thus production of smoke are controlled in the same manner as in the form exemplified by Fig. 1 or in any suitable manner.

The invention also provides means for employing heat, otherwise than by bringing smoke material directly into the presence of engine exhaust, for ignition of smoke material, and also for its treatment.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the exhaust-eon-- duit E leads from the side of the rear portion of an elongated casing 29, and exhaustpipes E deliver from the engine-cylinders into the casing. The casing is closed at its front and rear ends by walls 30 (see Fig. 4), and these walls support a plurality of pipes, tubes, or other suitable conduits 31, which extend from end to end of the casing and are open at their front and rear ends. Air may be caused to flow through the tubes 31 and be heated by the exhaust in the casing in any suitable manner. When the apparatus is installed in a Vehicle, such as an aircraft, for example, the front end faces the direction of the vehicles motion and air flow through the tubes occurs while the vehicle is in motion. In order to increase the air flow, the front end of the casing may be equipped with an airscoop 32, if desired. The heated air dischargesinto a conduit 33 connected with the rear end of the casing 29.

.Air thus heated may be employed in the operation of a smoke apparatus in any of several ways.

As shown by Fig. 3,the conduit 33 may' discharge directly into the atmosphere, and from the casing, air at approximately atmossmoke material may be delivered to the dispheric temperature may be delivered into the charged current of hot air by a pipe and conduit 33 and used for cooling purposes. ignited ina manner similar to that pertaining Consequently, when smoke material nearly to the apparatus exemplfied by Fig. .1 or by reaches a temperaturethat is dangerous or Fig. 2. The smoke material may be supplied otherwise disadvantageous in the apparatus, to pipe 20 by gravity from a container SM cooling fluid may be applied at once thereto. and its flow controlled by a valve 34, as shown An apparatus for electric-spark ignition by Fig. 3; it may be controlled by a stirrer of smoke material is exemplified by Fig. 6', and caused to move to the discharge as shown wherein SM designates any suitable smokeby Figs. 1 and 2; or the smoke material may material container, 20 a discharge-conduit be caused to move to the discharge end of the leading therefrom,'and controlled, if desired,

conduit by fluid-pressure means such as disby a valve 34, and 38 designates electrodes,

a 9. In such case, hot air flow into the casing discharge-outlet E.

closed by Fig. Shereinafter more particularly such as those of a spark-plug, for example,

4 referred to or by my copending application positioned outside of and near the discharge Ser. No. 654,887, filed July 31, 1923. end of the conduit and arranged to produce Air heated in an apparatus such as eXema spark in the discharge stream. Conductors plified by Figs. 3 and 4 riot only may be em- 39 for the electrodes are connected with any ployed for direct ignition of smoke material, suitable source of electricity, such as a map;- but it also may be used for treatment of such neto 40, for example, and a switch 41 controls material. For example, referring to the apthe spark circuit. Movement of smoke mateparatus exemplified by my application hererial through the conduit 20 may be caused in before mentioned, instead of directing enand controlled in any suitable manner, as, for gine exhaust through pipe 9 into the casing example, by means such as described herein 4, a pipe leading from the air-heater, such with reference to other oxemplifications of as conduit 33, may be substituted for pipe the invention.

The invention also provides for flame igni- 4 may be controlle(l in any suit-able manner, tion of smoke material at or near its place of as, for example, by means similar to that em discharge into the atmosphere, as disclosed ployed for control of exhaust flow through by Fig. 7. In that figure,o'ne or more burners pip 9 of i pp i ti a e pa ticu- 42 are positioned near the discharge end of larly referred to hereinafter with reference conduit 20 to direct flame into the stream of to the apparatus exemplified by Fig. 5.

discharge containing smoke material emitted I th ype pp ratu disc os by g. from that conduit, whereby the smoke mate- 5,inst ead of employing aplu rali ty of airrial is ignited. The burners are supplied with conduits, the elongated casing 29-1s open' at inflammable fluid by a pipe 43, controlled by both ends, its front end has an air-scoop 32, a valve 44. connected with a tank 45.

and its rear end is contracted as shown at 35. Some of the materials used for production The exhaust-pipes E extend into the casing, of smoke are corrosive and are liable to inand they are joined to and deliver into the jure valve structures. and they are liable to exhaust-conduit E, which extends outwardly clog valve ports and passages and the like. through the rear portion of the casing as a It is desirable, therefore, to afford clear and A tulnablc el w 36 unobstructed passages for movement. of is arranged to have its intake end brought 0psmoke material. With these factors, among positc and Close t the discharge end f others, in view, the invention provides an the casing 29, and its movement is controlled apparatus such as exemplified by Fig. 8.

by a member 37 extending to a place where it Th t apparatus i l d a haft; 15 rotated can be reached conveniently by the operator. by an engine-driven shaft 16 through the inelbow is mounted and turnablen? h strumentality of a clutch or other powerend portion of a conduit 33,Whi( l1 CO 1. transmission device 17 controlled by a lever cates with the place in the apparatus to which 18, a i th case f th apparatus liit is desired to deliver air for ignition,-heat f fi d b Fi 1 d 2, Th h ft 15 i m. ing, or cooling purposes- The C a t 0f ranged to drive a pump 46, which delivers the air, so far as concerns t mp a u liquid from a storage-tank 47 through pipes livered to the condui is Controlled y mOVe- 48 to a smoke-material container SM and ment of the elbow to alter the relat e P from which smoke material in fluent conditiOII'Of its intake end h p toflle tion is dischargeable through a pipe 20. A

charge end of casing 29, i eing ppa relief-valve 49 is-located in a pipe 48 between that the maximum amount of hot air is rethe pump and the container SM, and a byceived from the casing when the intake end pass 50 leadstherefrom to the storage-tank. of the elbow is in registry therewith, and 9. Discharge of smoke material from the reless amo nt of ho ail n o e air from the ceptaele SM is under the direct control of atmosphere are taken in as the elbow is moved the operator through the instrumentality of from that position. Accordingly, by moving the clutcln When the clutch is thrown in the intake end out of the stream of discharge and the pump operated, any suitable fluid,

'the container SM and the smoke material thereby is forced outwardly through the dis charge-pipe and, immediately upon throwing out the clutch and stoppage of the pump, discharge of smoke material ceases. The relief-valve is set so that, when the pressure of fluid in the pipe leading to the container is sufficient to maintain discharge of smoke material during operation of the pump, some of the fluid may be returned to the storage-tank through the by-pass and excess pressure avoided.

'While any suitable fluid may lire-employed in the apparatus exemplified by Fig. 8, it is particularly adapted for employment of water or other liquid. The apparatus may be used in place of the air-pressure arrangement for causing'fluid pressure in the receptacle 19 of my co-pending application hereinbefore mentioned, or in apparatus of the type exemplified by Fig. 9 hereinafter described, or in other smoke apparatus wherein controlled pressure is desirable for eflecting, or

contributing to, discharge of smoke material.

Fig. 9 exemplifies an arrangement for controlling the temperature in a container, and it is adapted for use with a jacketed container such as disclosed by my copending application hereinbefore referred to and to other apparatus in which temperature controlling or modifying fluid is applied to casings, pipes, and other containers of smoke material.

The apparatus exemplified by Fig.9 includes a container SM arranged. to hold. smoke material and having a jacket 51 af- :fording passages through which. fluid can be moved, a pump 46 operated by an enginedriven shaft 15 arranged to cause circulation of fluid (preferably liquid such-as water) through conduits 52, 53 and 54 and a heattransference device 55 to which pipes 53 and 54 are connected.

The device 55 may be of a radiator type, it has in its top an opening, closed by a removable cap 56 through which liquid may be introduced into the circulating system, and it has tubes or other passage-containing members 57 extending therethrough and through the fluid therein and open at their ends. An intake member or scoop 58 at the front of the device is arranged to receive fluid and direct it through the members 57.

The exhaust-conduit E has mounted thereon a swingable terminal 36 arranged to be swung by a control member 37 to bring its" discharge end to and from position opposite to the the intake 58. Temperature of the circulating fluid applied to the container SM is controlled by adjustment of the terminal 36. When it is desired to maintain the circulating fluid at high temperature, the terminal is positioned with its end in re istry with the intake, when practically all of t e exhaust will be discharged into the device 55.

hen the terminal is adjusted to other positions, less exhaust and more air will be re ceived by the device, it being assumed that the apparatus is installed in a vehicle and that the intake Faces toward the direction in which the vehicle moves. If it is desired to bring the circulating fluid to, and maintain it at the minimum temperature for the purpose of cooling smoke material, the terminal is adjusted to such position entirely out of registry with the intake as will result in discharge of all of the. exhaust into the atmosphere and air only passes through the device.

-tion engine, a discharge-conduit arranged to discharge into the emission of said exhaust conduit, a container of non-inflammable fluid,

a delivery-conduit communicatim with said container and discharge-conduit, and a smoke-materlal container having a d1schargepassage communicating with said dischargeconduit.

3. In a smoke apparatus, the combination of an exhaust-conduit of an internal-combustion engine, a discharge-conduit, a container of non-inflammable fluid, a delivery-conduit communicating with said container and discharge-conduit and arranged to be heated by said exhaust-conduit, a smoke material container having a discharge-passage communicating with said discharge-conduit, and ignition means for smoke material supplied to said discharge-conduit.

4. In a smoke apparatus, a discharge conduit, a smoke-material container having a discharge-passage communicating with said conduit, a by-pass extending from said conduitto said container, a device arranged to cause discharge of material through said passage, and'means whereby said device is operated and rendered inoperative at will.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

ARTHUR R. SMITH. 

